Talk of the town is Gabriel Luis Quisumbing or "Luigi", all of 27 years old and already emerging as the next political luminary of the province. And when men his age are still hanging out at late-night gigs, Luigi is already dreaming big for Cebu’s industrial hub.
Luigi Quisumbing is no newcomer to politics. He won a seat in his district’s provincial board at the age of 24, garnering the highest number of votes for that post in the 2004 elections.
Our coffee shop friends familiar with Cebu politics say this sixth district David is giving the traditional political Goliaths a big scare. Our Cebu kibitzer-friends say the big guns have started firing negative propaganda on Luigi, a sure sign that he has not only won voters’ attention but has won their hearts as well.
While his nemeses are trying to paint the young Quisumbing as an upstart, Cebu ’s sixth district apparently knows better. Luigi, we were told, was no fence-sitter during his provincial board stint. He was fiery and feisty, even colliding head-on with the provincial governor over the issue of a province-funded white elephant project. Luigi wanted the huge money spent instead on barangay-based computer learning centers, school-buildings and a specialized hospital for children.
His nemeses have also been advised to consider the fact that Luigi Quisumbing at 27 is the chair of the 6th District Cebu Province Lakas-CMD. His stature is also not just provincial but national. He is the deputy national secretary general of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines, and of National Movement of Young Legislators.
Young Luigi’s political acumen, observers say, was genetically determined. This rising political star’s lineage says it all: his two grandfathers are important pillars in the country’s industrial and diplomatic circles.
Luigi is the grandson of Norberto Quisumbing Jr., one of the country’s greatest entrepreneurial minds. The Quisumbing patriarch placed Norkis on the map and single-handedly created a business that would not only be a leader in its niche, but also a major jobs generator for Cebu and the rest of the country.
He is also the great-grandson of Ambassador Eduardo Romualdez, an acknowledged authority on RP-US relations and one of the best envoys to Washington the country ever had.
Political observers say that the Quisumbing genes are responsible for Luigi’s macro-economic insights, leadership and business acumen. The Romualdez blood, on the other hand, defined his gift for human relations, compassion for the poor and his political savvy. The mixture of both molded the young Quisumbing’s heart for public service.
The direct influence on this emerging luminary, however, are parents Luis Bartolome Quisumbing and Betsy Tiuseco Romualdez. Luigi’s father now runs most of the family business. Observers point out that father Luis is the young politician’s role model as far as dealing with the common people are concerned. The low-key Luis, who once studied at a Redemptorist seminary, is the inspiration to his son’s political aspirations and the persistent advocate for personal excellence on Luigi’s part.
Mother Betsy, on the other hand, is an important influence to Luigi as far as social involvement and outreach work are concerned. The mother, we were told, is a tireless campaigner and is Luigi’s teacher in the art of transforming passion into action.
Unlike most other children of privileged families, Cebu political observers say Luigi Quisumbing is not one to take life easy. He actually worked in the family business and at one time served in the staff of a senator. He could have lived and studied in the United States but has opted instead to make Cebu his permanent home. Not only that. He actually influenced other friends to make Cebu their home, as well.
Luigi’s Quisumbing bloodline, observers add, must have been the driving force behind his vision for the transformation of the entire island of Mactan into a Freeport zone – one which could one day rival Hongkong and Singapore . The Romualdez bloodline, on the other hand, is the influence behind his passion for the construction of the hospital for poor children in Cebu ’s sixth district.
Luigi, we were told, was like a fish thrown into the water when he plunged into politics. He is a natural with people. Already, he is the major attraction in campaign sorties in his district. At 27, he appears to be an expert in the art of winning people over to his person and cause.
While he appears determined and driven, Cebu ’s political observers are quick to point out that Luigi Quisumbing is no nerd who has foregone his youth. He simply knows how to use his youthful energies, they point out. To balance his involvement with people, he listens to soft music, and at 27 interestingly enjoys Frank Sinatra songs.
The love for music does not come as a surprise. His grandfather Norberto Quisumbing Jr.’s middle name is Buencamino. And in the Philippines, that family name means only one thing – excellent patriotic music.
That is Luigi Quisumbing’s tune. And Cebu ’s sixth district appears set to dance to it.
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